Our Team

Ryan Mohney is the Director of Bands at Cypress Falls High School and is absolutely honored to work with the wonderful program. He is currently the director of the Golden Eagle Marching Band and oversees all planning, designing, and educational instruction of the group. His duties have included Visual Caption Head of the Marching Band, director of the Symphonic Band, Symphonic Winds, and teaching AP Music Theory. Bands under Ryan have consistently received “sweepstakes” at UIL Contests in both marching and concert ensembles.

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Ryan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in music education from Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. After graduating, he pursued and completed a Master’s Degree in applied music with a major concentration of wind conducting at the University of Houston. At UH, he studied under David Bertman, John Benzer, and Marion West while completing his academic coursework, leading concert band rehearsals, and learning individual and ensemble instrumental pedagogy. He also participated in masterclasses with both Joe Dixon and the legendary Eddie Green. Ryan is extremely thankful for his mentors and the opportunity to learn from them.

Ryan is an alumnus of the 2008 Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps where he marched trumpet. In 2011, he worked as the trumpet technician for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2012, he was promoted to the Brass Caption Head where he oversaw all brass staffing and scheduling, instrumental pedagogical curriculum, and rehearsal pacing within the brass section. Ryan has experience writing drill for competitive high school bands, working numerous band camps, and leading instrumental masterclasses with high school and college students.

Ryan is a proud veteran of United States Army National Guard where he served as a band member for six years. At the rank of Specialist, he served 4 years with the 122nd Ohio Army National Guard Band of Columbus, Ohio, and 2 years with the 36th Infantry Division Band of Austin, TX. Within the National Guard Band programs, Ryan has performed in concert ensembles, jazz ensembles, rock bands, Latin bands, marching bands, brass quintets, and special groups.

Ryan is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, and is a 3rd degree Master Mason of the Freemason Fraternity.

Jose R. Funes, a passionate music educator, was born in El Salvador. His musical journey began at the age of two as a violinist. By the age of twelve, he had transitioned to trumpet, and additionally learned euphonium after his move to Texas in 2008.

Mr. Funes is a multi-talented performer, having displayed his musical abilities in a variety of settings, from jazz bands, concert bands and steel drum bands to choirs. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Sam Houston State University. After graduating in 2019, Jose served as the Associate Director of Bands at Grantham Academy and MacArthur High School.

Jose’s remarkable achievements include his completion of his Master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting from Sam Houston in 2024. He continues his musical journey as the Assistant Director of Bands at Cypress Falls High School. Jose remains committed to creating exceptional musical experiences and nurturing students to become better humans through music, while sharing his passion for music with audiences and students alike.

Brandon currently serves as the Assistant Director of Bands / Percussion Specialist at Cypress Falls High School in Houston, TX. Brandon grew up in Suwanee, GA, a suburb of Atlanta, has been a part of the Cypress Falls Band program since 2023.

Brandon attended Auburn University where he performed in a variety of ensembles including the Auburn University Drumline, Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Concert Band, Campus Band, and Orchestra all while studying under Dr. Doug Rosener. Brandon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) while studying under Dr. Gene Fambrough where he also served as a percussion instructor for the UAB Drumline.

As a performer, Brandon participated in both Drum Corps International and Winter Guard International. In DCI, he performed as a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets (2007-2009) and the Boston Crusaders (2010). In WGI, he performed with Odyssey Percussion Theatre (2006 and 2007), Frequency Percussion (2008), and Pariah Percussion Theatre (2009).

Brandon has previously served on the percussion staff of the Crossmen (2014 and 2023) Music City (2015-2017, 2019) and Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps (2020 – 2022). Brandon has also taught the drumline at Auburn University, the University of South Carolina and the University of Alabama Birmingham as well as numerous high school percussion sections in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Ohio. In 2013, Brandon served as a percussion instructor for the Macy’s Great American Marching Band which performed as the opening act for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

During the summer of 2013, Brandon was chosen to serve a summer internship with the Pearl Corporation. During that time, he worked alongside the staff at Pearl in both the Sales and Marketing departments finding out first-hand what it takes to run one of the largest percussion instrument companies in the world.

Brandon lives in Houston, TX and is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association as well as the Percussive Arts Society. He is proud to be an endorsed artist for Pearl/Adams musical instruments, Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth sticks and mallets.

Lauren started her color guard career at Cypress Falls High School in Houston, Texas. After graduation, she would go on to march two summer with Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in the Drum Corps International activity.

After her drum corps experience, she would march at Spirit Independent Winter Guard and decide to teach the following Fall and Winter seasons back at Cypress Falls, her alma mater. After a short break from color guard, Ms. Hall would return to Cypress Falls as the new Assistant Color Guard Director

Ms. Hall spent her most recent winter season with Cypress Independent. “I always look forward to sharing my passion with younger generations.”